How Much?

That’s what I said when I saw the entry fee for Alice’s Run at Mytholmroyd was £8! It’s been some years since I entered a race and I was still expecting it to cost about four quid – I’ve definitely lived in Yorkshire too long!

But it was a good £8 worth. A very well organised, challenging multi-terrain 10k course. The perfect rainbow at the start was swiftly washed away by relentless rain but it didn’t seem to matter.

The race began with a lap of Brierley Field, which wasn’t far short of a mile. There was a bottleneck to clamber up the narrow, slippy banking out of the field and another fairly soon afterwards on a long slog up a roughly paved track. It wasn’t possible to pass runners there and occasionally one came slipping back down so we all shoved them back up again!

The next few miles were on a pleasantly rolling trail through woodland and out onto the Hebden Bridge Road. At three miles I was wondering what all the fuss was about this tough course. And then we turned sharply off the road. And up. And up. Until we came out at the top of the Calder Valley with less than a quarter of a mile to run, finishing with a lap of yet another field.

The race, which included an official walk, is organised by Epilepsy Action in memory of local girl, Alice Redmond and I had the feeling that many of the runners and walkers were there for Alice. There was no-one chasing prize money, just 212 people out for a good race, enjoying a hard run or walk in beautiful surroundings on a wet September Sunday morning.

Race winners were Peter Rigler of Tipton Harriers in 38.08 and Jacqui Dews of Holmfirth Harriers, who was 10th overall, in 45.01.

By Ann Rhodes 56.21 in 65th position overall, 2nd V50

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